From a movie ticket to a gallon of gas: These 12 things cost less than 50 cents in the ’50s

Ah, the halcyon days of the 1950s, long remembered by many as a golden age in America. A booming postwar economy, the rise of the middle class and homeownership, and cultural icons like Elvis, James Dean, diners, and jukeboxes defined the decade.

Of course, that nostalgia glosses over the harsher realities: racial segregation and discrimination, limited rights for women, and ongoing wars in Korea and, later, Vietnam.

Lower prices but not necessarily cheaper

One thing people often point to is how low prices seemed compared to today. Many items that cost several dollars now could be had for 50 cents or less back then.

But in reality, things weren’t actually cheaper—it’s just the effect of inflation. What looks like pocket change today was a much more significant expense back then. In 1950, the median household income was around $3,000 a year, or $250 a month. That means 50 cents was 0.2% of monthly income—the equivalent of about $11 today, with median income now around $70,000 a year ($5,800/month).

With that in mind, here are 12 things that cost less than 50 cents in the ’50s, as compiled by Cheapism.

The inflation-adjusted prices (to 2025) show how they compare to what you pay today:

• Movie ticket – 45 cents (adjusted for 2025: $5.42)
• Gallon of gas – 27 cents (adjusted: $3.25)
• Loaf of bread – 15 cents (adjusted: $1.81)
• Coca-Cola – 5 cents (adjusted: 60 cents)
• Postage stamp – 3 cents (adjusted: 36 cents)
• Coffee – 5 to 10 cents (adjusted: 60 cents to $1.20)
• Toothpaste – 50 cents (adjusted: $6.02)
• Scoop of ice cream – 5 to 20 cents (adjusted: 60 cents to $2.41)
• Bus fare – 10 to 15 cents (adjusted: $1.20 to $1.81)
• Bar of soap – 10 to 15 cents (adjusted: $1.20 to $1.81)
• Box of matches – 5 cents (adjusted: 60 cents)
• Pay phone call – 5 cents (adjusted: 60 cents)

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